Viral load suppression and retention in care among children and adolescents receiving multi-month anti-retroviral therapy refills: a program data review in Uganda.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In July 2022, Uganda's Ministry of Health extended the 2021 WHO guidelines that recommended 3-6 monthly dispensing of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to include all children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV). Treatment outcomes following this recommendation have not yet been documented. We compared viral load (VL) suppression and retention in HIV care rates among CALHIV receiving 1, 2-5, and >  = 6 monthly ART dispensation in Uganda.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of electronic medical records in 118 health facilities was conducted. Data for CALHIV 10-19 years captured at their most recent five clinic visits as of 15th May 2023 were analysed. Most recent two VL < 1000 copies/ml were used as measures for VL suppression and sustained VL suppression. A client wa

SUBMITTER: Ainembabazi B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11624587 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature